The qafsi denominations of early 19th-century Tunisia were struck at Tunis under Ottoman suzerainty, during a period when the Husainid beys operated with considerable practical autonomy while still acknowledging the sultan's nominal authority — hence Mahmud II's name on the coinage despite Tunis managing its own monetary affairs. These small copper pieces circulated primarily in local markets and were notoriously prone to irregular striking, with planchet quality varying considerably across the production run. KM#85 survivors in collectible condition are scarcer than the type's obscurity might suggest.
The qafsi denominations of early 19th-century Tunisia were struck at Tunis under Ottoman suzerainty, during a period when the Husainid beys operated with considerable practical autonomy while still acknowledging the sultan's nominal authority — hence Mahmud II's name on the coinage despite Tunis managing its own monetary affairs. These small copper pieces circulated primarily in local markets and were notoriously prone to irregular striking, with planchet quality varying considerably across the production run. KM#85 survivors in collectible condition are scarcer than the type's obscurity might suggest.